A SCHOOL minibus driver has taken on Essex County Council in a bid to get a dangerous path fixed before "someone gets seriously hurt".

Trevor Norcott, 63, of Mill Lane, Braintree, says the pedestrian path that runs along Braintree Road between the town and Cressing is so bad it is only a matter of time before someone is injured.

"It's like running the gauntlet every time someone wants to get down the road," said Mr Norcott, whose wife fell over on the path on Wednesday, July 23.

"Luckily I was walking with her and could help her up. After that happened I decided to get on to the council and put pressure on them to get something done about it."

The stretch of path that runs along the B1018 is the responsibility of Essex County Council, who only this week announced a £17.5 million programme to fix the 700 worst roads in the county.

Mr Norcott continued: "All along the road there's no path, it's all come away and that's where school kids, pensioners, parents with push chairs cross the road.

"It's very dangerous, it's a very busy road but it just has stones with lots of little pebbles thrown on top of it," added the grandfather-of-five.

Mr Norcott has also contacted Tye Green Parish Council in a bid to get the situation resolved.

"It needs to be fixed, lots of people use it at the weekend when there's no buses, if the council don't do something to sort it out someone is going to get seriously hurt – it's only a matter of time," added the part-time school mini-bus driver.

A spokesman for Essex Highways, the department that is responsible for the path, said: "We have arranged for an inspector to visit the site to assess if any urgent repairs are required.

"We would like to urge residents to report highways defects via the Essex County Council website www.essex.gov.uk or by calling 0845 603 7631 to ensure any issues are brought to the council's attention and assessed as quickly as possible."

CHELMSFORD diving star Rebecca Gallantree was "over the moon" to return home from Glasgow 2014 a Commonwealth Games champion.

Along with partner Alicia Blagg, the 29-year-old dived to the synchronised 3m springboard title with a score of 300.24 points.

Going into the final round, the duo were in second place, but a stunning final dive landed them a score of 72.52 and the gold medal.

Gallantree said: "I am absolutely over the moon with it and I think from our reaction you could probably tell that it was completely unexpected. We went into it just hoping for a medal because we came fourth by about a point in Delhi. We really wanted to get that medal but never realised it was going to be a gold one.

"I think our reaction also showed just how much it means to both of us. We have a real passion for the sport and it displayed just how much that means to us to have success."

Gallantree is a ten-time British diving champion since making her international debut in 2004.

But this was her first Commonwealth medal at her third Games, capping off a tough year for the experienced competitor.

She added: "I have been working with Alicia since she was about 12 so it has been just over five years together now. This year has been a bit rocky as we have both picked up injuries and I have been diving with Hannah Starling in the last couple of competitions. We had the World Cup just before the Commonwealths, in which I dived with Hannah, so we hadn't trained too much together recently.

"The week in Scotland was tricky as there were a few adjustments we needed to make with the synchronisation to get the timing right. It was stressful and emotional, but we worked really hard and we were both delighted that it paid off."

One of the highlights of the Games was the amount of support given to each of the Home Nations.

And despite the diving competition taking place in Edinburgh at the Royal Commonwealth Pool and not Glasgow, Gallantree admitted she was spurred on by the atmosphere

Gallantree added: "After we won the synchro we had a night to go out and catch up with family members and boyfriends. It was fantastic to have them all there and just to know that they were behind me and supporting me all the way.

"The crowd in Edinburgh was fantastic, even though it technically wasn't a home Games the support was so good it felt like it was. It almost took me back to London 2012."

DARYL SELBY was delighted with achieving his goal of winning a Commonwealth Games medal.

The 31-year-old won bronze in the squash men's doubles along with teammate James Willstrop, beating Scottish pair Alan Clyne and Harry Leitch.

And despite being knocked out of the mixed doubles competition in the quarter-final stage, the Chelmsford star still came away from Glasgow 2014 happy.

He said: "It was an aim and a goal of mine to come back with a medal, so I am delighted to have achieved it.

"It was obviously disappointing to have lost in the quarter-final of the mixed doubles. We lost to Peter (Baker) and Alison (Waters) who won the silver, so they are a very good pair.

"But with James we just didn't play great in the semi-finals but managed to pick ourselves up and regroup and fight for the bronze, something I am really glad we did.

"It was a tough second week schedule-wise. I had three matches on two of the days so that was obviously hard. It was hectic but one that I was able to cope with. I kept fresh and prepared myself for the next games and having that one last push on Sunday to get that medal.

"Afterwards we had a great night, as I didn't get in till about half-six in the morning. We popped into town and as you can imagine just a quiet Sunday drink in Glasgow city centre."

Selby paid homage to the Scottish support that created such a memorable atmosphere inside the Scotstoun Sports Campus.

And he also hopes that the reaction by the crowd will convince the International Olympic Committee to include his sport in the coming Olympic Games. He added: "It was incredible in the venue. It was so loud and during the bronze medal match it was electric.

"Credit to the Scottish teams for how they performed as well and contributed to the massive support that there was there.

"It provided a fantastic atmosphere and probably upped the quality of many of the matches.

"At the moment the Commonwealth Games is the highest thing we have in the sport. But I just hope that with the reaction of people at the event and on social media we will show just how spectator-friendly it really is.

"I think the two weeks that we have had in Glasgow shows that the committee will sit up and take notice of squash."

SUPERBIKE star Ed Rendell was delighted with his surprise victory at Thruxton in the Motorstar 125GP British Championship Series at the weekend.

The Chelmsford rider stormed to victory and extended his Championship lead to 42 points with six rounds left.

But despite his dominant season on the bike, the 23-year-old admitted even this victory was unexpected.

He said: "We didn't really think we were going to get a win going into the round with Thruxton being a very fast circuit and my competitors are smaller and have faster bikes.

"We have left the round with a lead of 42 points and it is going really, really well. We sort of expected to come third and maybe lose a few points, but we came away with the win.

"We didn't have a great qualifying being on the second row, but I knew I had the pace to get up the front.

"Bradley [Ray], who qualified first, fell off on the second lap, which helped me in a way, but we all had a good battle and I was delighted to come out on top."

On a quick circuit at Thruxton, Rendell felt that using his brain was just as important as speed.

He added: "You have to be very clever on that circuit, the back straight is very long and you have to go into the final corner well into the start/finish straight.

"It is all about slipstreaming and if you are heading down that straight first then you are going to get slipstreamed and overtaken. Thankfully the team did a fantastic job to get some more power out of the bike."

The action moves on to Oulton Park this weekend, and with Rendell already picking up a win there earlier in the season, he feels confident he can repeat the feat.

"The bike has been set up so nicely this year.

"We have got all the data from the start of the year when we were there and went really fast.

"We got the pole position and the win.

"That weekend the bike was really good so I am hoping that we can just do the same and win there."

A WITHAM man has been charged with arson and burglary over a kitchen fire at a fast food restaurant.

A small fire broke out at Essex Fast Food, in Collingwood Road, Witham, shortly after 5am on Wednesday, August 6.

The fire was exstinguished before fire crews arrived, but police arrested Omer Tarhan, of Bure Drive, later that day.

He was interviewed and on Thursday, August 7 he was charged with arson with intent and burglary.

The 38-year-old man from Witham appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Friday, August 8 and has been remanded in custody to appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday October 13.

FIREFIGHTERS across Essex will be striking today as their bitter feud with the Government over retirement age and pensions continues.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union will be taking strike action between midday and 2pm today as part of the national dispute.

There will be another one hour strike this evening between 11am and midday and strikes will be repeated twice a day between 12-1pm and 11am to midday until next Saturday, August 16.

This row has been raging since last November with the most recent industrial action taken last month with a series of 15 strikes over eight consecutive days.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service says Essex has strong resilience arrangements in place and advise members of the public to continue to dial 999 in an emergency as working crews will respond.

They also say businesses should follow up automatic alarms with a phone call to ensure a response during periods of reduced fire cover.

Since the strike began at midday today the fire service say there have been no major incidents in Essex.

A "SUSPICIOUS" fire in an empty house is being in investigated by police.

Officers were called to the fire at a house in Mersea Road, Colchester, just after 4.50am today after reports that an intruder had been seen at the unoccupied property in the road.

A man was then seen to run off into a nearby field and shortly afterwards flames were spotted coming from the property.

Officers evacuated five nearby properties while firefighters dealt with the blaze.

Due to the man's activity in the area prior to the fire, police are treating the incident as suspicious.

The man was wearing a black hooded top, carrying a ruck sack and was heard to speak with a northern accent.

Anyone with information is asked to call DC Mark Peacock at Colchester CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

AN e-fit of a suspect police are seeking in connection with a chemical attack on a man in Witham which left the victim with serious chemical burns has been released. 

The image is of one of the two suspects police believe are responsible for the assault, during which an unknown caustic liquid was thrown over the 56-year-old victim.

He remains in Broomfield Hospital receiving treatment for his burns.

DS Becky Young said: "We believe this e-fit to bear a strong likeness to the man involved. He had a distinctive braided hairstyle and we are sure if anyone knows this man they will recognise this picture.

"As we have indicated already the information that we currently have suggests that the victim was not the intended target of this attack. Unfortunately he appears to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"The two suspects are described as a white man and a black man and if anyone saw them either in the area prior to this attack or afterwards we would urgently like to speak to them."

The man attacked had gone down to collect his post from the communal entrance to a block of flats in Bramble Road in Witham shortly before 10.45am on Friday August 8 when he encountered the two men banging on the door.

Following a brief exchange the two men threw the liquid, which was in a glass bottle, over the man and ran off.

He has suffered injuries to his hands and face consistent with the use of a harmful liquid and was subsequently taken by ambulance to Broomfield Hospital for treatment.

The man's injuries are not believed to be life threatening but are potentially life changing.

Cordons initially put in place in the road have now been released but police have today been carrying out further house to house enquiries in the Bramble Road area.

Anyone who recognises the man in the e-fit or who has other information about the attack is asked to call Essex Police at Braintree CID on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

CASES heard by Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates from Tuesday, July 15 to Tuesday, July 22.

Sent to prison

ADRIAN OPITEANU, 33, of no fixed address, was sent to prison for six weeks for stealing £935 of cosmetics from Boots in Chelmsford on July 17, acting with Pucianu Gabriel as part of an organised team. He had come to Chelmsford with a foil lined bag with the intention of stealing high value cosmetics.

GABRIEL PUCIANU, 29, of Manor Road, London, E17, was also given six weeks imprisonment for stealing £935 cosmetics from Boots in Chelmsford on July 17, acting together with Opiteanu Adrian.

MARTYN PAUL RICHARDSON, 35, of Hythe Close, Braintree, was sent to prison for 28 days for stealing four pairs of sunglasses valued at £550 from Specsavers at Braintree on July 19. He also pleaded guilty to causing £50 worth of damage to an exercise wall belonging to Essex Police.

Suspended sentence

WAYNE BINCALAR, 38, of Park Avenue, Chelmsford, was given a 14 week prison sentence, suspended for two years, for assaulting Hayley Bincalar by beating her at Chelmsford on March 7. He was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, and was given a restraining order forbidding him from contacting Hayley or going to Coval Avenue. He must pay an £80 victim surcharge and £650 costs to the CPS.

Assault

JACQUELINE LESLEY LONGMAN, 40, of Church Street, Witham, was given a community order for assaulting Bruce Longman by beating him at Witham on May 18. She was placed under a curfew for six weeks, with electronic monitoring, and must pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

ABEL MICHAEL PEARCE, 25, of Lavender Court, Chelmsford, was fined £83 for assaulting Constance Walker by beating her at Chelmsford on June 30. He was ordered to pay £100 compensation, a victim surcharge of £20 and £85 costs to the CPS.

ANDREW LONGHURST, 51, of Battle Rise, Heybridge, was given a community order for assaulting Anthony Smith by beating him at Southminster on March 21. He was ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay £50 compensation, a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

TERRY LEE PARR, 35, of Norris Close, Braintree, was given a community order for assaulting Tammy Foley by beating her at Braintree on February 11. The defendant must participate in education, training and employment (ETE) for 15 days, and attend appointments with a responsible officer. He must also pay a £50 fine, a £60 victim surcharge and pay £50 costs to the CPS.

TOMAS KRZYSZTOP STERKOWIEC, 27, of Byron Road, Chelmsford, was given a community order for assaulting Leigh Ford by beating him at Chelmsford on July 2. He also pleaded guilty to three further counts of causing £350 of damage to glasses belonging to Leigh, assaulting Mark Berwick by beating him and causing approximately £50 of damage to a mobile phone belonging to Mark. The defendant must carry out 100 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, and 100 hours concurrent for each of the other offences. He must also pay compensation of £500 and £100 respectively plus a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

MATTHEW EDWARD CROUCH, 38, of Oakroyd Avenue, Great Dunmow, was given a community order for assaulting Robert Wright by beating him at Dunmow on March 29 and of willfully obstructing a Police Constable from carrying out her duty. The defendant must Participate in ETE for ten days, carry out 150 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay £150 compensation, a £60 victim surcharge and £200 costs to the CPS.

TYLER MEVSIMLER, 23, of Viaduct Road, Chelmsford, was given a community order for assaulting Charlie Edinburgh by beating him at Chelmsford on May 6. He also pleaded guilty to destroying an iPhone valued at £500 belonging to Mr Edinburgh and caused £260 of damage to a glass door belonging to Absolutely Fabulous Tanning Salon in Chelmsford. The defendant must carry out 150 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay £650 compensation, a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

ADRIAN LENORAD CARDY, 30, of The Leys, Springfield, was given a community order for assaulting his mother, Debbie Cardy, by beating her at Chelmsford on June 24. The defendant must attend appointments with a responsible officer, carry out 150 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

Breach of ASBO

STEPHEN WILLIAM EDMUNDS, 57, of Crushton Place, Chelmsford, was given a 12 month conditional discharge for breaching an antisocial behaviour order imposed on June 24 this year by being abusive to Mary Shelley at Chelmsford on July 19. He must pay a £15 victim surcharge.

Breach of order

MAREK GORNY, 30, of Widford Close, Chelmsford, was given a conditional discharge for 12 months for breaching a non molestation order made on April 23 by attending an address in Chelmsford on June 22. He must pay a £15 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

Council Tax regulations

SANDRA MICHELLE BORSEY, 43, of Rutland Road, Chelmsford, was ordered to pay £2,233.96 or serve an eight week suspended sentence. She had shown a willful refusal to pay council tax and costs of £2,233.96.

SALLY COLLETT, 38, of Writtle Road, Chelmsford, was ordered to pay £3,273.91 for non-payment of council tax and costs, or serve three months further suspended.

Criminal damage

GEMMA DEE, 29, of Bocking End, Braintree, was given a 12 month conditional discharge for causing £80 worth of damage to a Jaguar X-type belonging to Frank Shearer at Braintree on June 19. She must pay a £15 victim surcharge and £40 costs to the CPS.

Criminal justice

JOSEPH MARCUS GRADON, 35, of Highfields Mead, East Hanningfield, was given a community order for possessing a lock knife in Springfield Road, Chelmsford, on July 4. The defendant must carry out 200 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

JOSEPH DAVID MORTON, 19, of Meadgate Avenue, Chelmsford, was given a community order for being in possession of a Stanley knife and a quantity of cannabis, a controlled class B drug, at Meadgate Avenue, Chelmsford on July 4. He was ordered to participate in Education, Training and Employment for ten days, attend appointments with a responsible officer and pay a victim surcharge of £60 and £85 costs to the CPS. He must also forfeit both the knife and the drugs and have them destroyed.

Dangerous Dogs

BRIAN TURNER, 42, of London Road, Chelmsford, was ordered to keep three bull mastiffs under proper control or have them destroyed. He was guilty of allowing Lilly and Lalo to be dangerously out of control at Hylands Park, Chelmsford on January 11. Bluebell was also dangerous and out of control at Chelmsford on January 24. He was ordered to keep the dogs muzzled when in public; on a suitable lead not exceeding 1m in length; and each dog must be walked with an appropriate adult aged over 18, capable of controlling it at all times. His property must be suitably fenced to prevent the dogs from escaping; and they must be micro-chipped. He was fined £750 and must pay a £75 victim surcharge and £700 costs.

Drugs - possession

PERRY WAYNE MILES-ANDERSON, 25, of The Close, Cressing, was given an amended suspended sentence for being in possession of ten grams of cannabis, a controlled class B drug, at Chelmsford on July 7, while subject to a suspended sentence order. He must carry out 60 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months in addition to the original requirements of the order and pay £85 costs to the CPS.

Failed to comply

PAUL VICTOR WELHAM, 47, of Southview Road, Rettendon Common, was ordered to carry out an additional 30 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, in addition to the original requirements of a community order imposed on September 30, for failing to attend two appointments in June.

STEPHEN WILLIAM EDMUNDS, 57, of Crushton Place, Chelmsford, was fined £37 for breaching a community order made on January 13 this year. He had failed to attend an appointment on June 20, was one hour late on July 7 and his behaviour was unacceptable. He must also pay £30 costs.

CHARLIE TOMS, 20, of Blake Road, Witham, was fined £30 for failing to attend two appointments in June, as required by a community order made on April 26 last year. He must also pay £30 costs.

LOGAN NEPOLEON GERHARTZ, 19, of Colchester Road, Maldon, was ordered to carry out an additional 12 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, in addition to the requirements of a community order made on April 16 for failing to attend three education, training and employment appointments in May and June. He must pay £50 costs.

DAVID KING, 58, of no fixed address, was ordered to have treatment for alcohol dependency for two months. He had failed to comply with a community order made on June 26 by not attending an ETE appointment on July 3 and showing unacceptable behaviour to probation staff. All other requirements of the order are to continue.

Fraud

DEBORAH SMART, 39, of Falkland Court, Braintree, was given a community order for three counts of fraud by claiming to be living as a single person in order to claim housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support between April and September last year at Braintree. She was placed under a curfew for two months and must pay a £60 victim surcharge and £80 costs to the CPS.

Harassment

PAUL ALLEN ROBERTS, 33, of Parklands Drive, Chelmsford, was fined £110 for making numerous telephone calls and sending text messages to Karen Woollard at Witham on May 18 when he had been prohibited by a restraining order imposed on March 22, 2011. He must pay a £20 victim surcharge and £50 costs to the CPS.

Social Security offences

RUDI HODGE, 57, of Church Street, Witham, was given a community order for six counts of making claims for social security benefits at Witham. The defendant had made false statements to the Department for Work and Pensions between 2009 and 2013 by failing to give full details of income in order to claim Jobseekers' Allowance, and Employment Support. The defendant was ordered to attend appointments with a responsible officer, carry out 80 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months and pay a £60 victim surcharge.

Theft – shoplifting

RASHEEDA RASHEED, 30, of Church Street, Witham, was fined £73 for stealing large amounts of shoes and clothing to the value of £1,356.40 from Debenhams in Chelmsford on June 30. She must pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

GEMMA DEE, 29, of Bocking End, Braintree, was given a conditional discharge for six months, having pleaded guilty to stealing £9.74 worth of food items from Sainsbury's at Braintree on June 4. She must pay a £15 victim surcharge and £40 costs to the CPS.

KAREN WARE, 59, of Tanners Meadow, Braintree, was fined £73 for stealing food and money of an unknown value from WH Smith at Stansted Airport between March 28 and May 20. She must pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

KRISTIE ANN WALLACE, 39, of Kings Way, South Woodham Ferrers, was fined £280 for stealing food stuffs to the value of £289.07 from Asda at Queen Elizabeth Square in South Woodham Ferrers on July 3. She must also pay a victim surcharge of £28 and £85 costs to the CPS.

DARREN JOHN LAST, 41, of Rue Des Jeunes, Braintree, was given a conditional discharge for 12 months for stealing various meat items valued at £19.16 from the Co-op, Challis Lane, at Braintree on June 30. He was ordered to pay £19.16 compensation, a £15 victim surcharge and £30 costs to the CPS.

Theft – other

BRADLEY WAYNE MITCHELL, 23, of Edenway, Chelmsford, was given a community order after pleading guilty to four counts of making off without paying for fuel. He took diesel amounting to £141.10 on June 8; £43.37 for unleaded fuel on June 9; £132.71 for fuel on June 8, and £29.42 for diesel on June 9, all from Chelmsford. He must pay compensation of £141.10, £43.37, £132.71 and £29.42 respectively in additional to paying a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS and was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months.

Drink-driving

ISABELLA RAMOS CHAPPELL, 24, of Weller Grove, Chelmsford, was given a 18 month driving ban for driving along Braganza Road in Chelmsford on July 1 after she had been drinking. The amount of alcohol measured 66 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than one and a half times the limit. She was fined £400 and must pay a £40 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

TIMOTHY GRIFFITHS, 57, of Walson Way, Stansted, was disqualified from driving for 16 months for driving along Tot Lane at Stansted Mountfitchet on June 20 after he had been drinking. The proportion of alcohol measured 47 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than the limit. He was fined £110 plus a £20 victim surcharge and must pay £85 costs to the CPS. He was also driving without a valid driving licence or insurance.

PAULINE ANTOINETTE FELTGEN, 70, of Crouch Road, Burnham on Crouch, was banned from driving for 20 months for driving along Crouch Road at Burnham on July 6 after she had been drinking. Her breath contained 86 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, just under two and a half times the limit. She was fined £110 plus a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

Careless driving

JED THOMAS TURNER, 25, of Lawling Avenue, Heybridge, was given three penalty points on his driving licence for driving along the A414, Heybridge Approach, at Maldon on November 14 without due care and attention. He drove the wrong way around a roundabout in order to shorten his journey, having no consideration for the Highway Code. He was fined £45 and must pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

DARREN JOHN PAUL EATON, 21, of Woodhall Road, Chelmsford, was banned from driving for six months for driving along Melbourne Avenue in Chelmsford on June 4 without due care and attention. He also pleaded guilty to failing to stop when required to do so by a constable in uniform and driving without insurance. He was fined £110 plus a £20 victim surcharge and must pay £85 costs to the CPS.

A SCHOOL chef swam 2.4 miles, cycled 112 miles and then ran a marathon to complete the gruelling Ironman UK triathlon for a disabled charity.

Ormiston Rivers cook Paul King, of Russet Way, Burnham-on-Crouch, completed the punishing triathlon for Scope, which works closely with his great uncle.

The 21-year-old, who had been training for the mammoth challenge on Sunday, July 20 for more than 11 months, finished the race in Bolton in a very respectable 13 hours and 16 minutes.

"It was really overcast and cold until midday, which was no fun at all when I was in the water, but then the sun came out and I've got quite a nasty sunburn to show for it," he said.

However, despite his battle wounds, the chef explained that the most important thing was that he raised a lot of money for charity.

Paul, who is more used to serving Burnham pupils hot lunches, chose Scope UK after the charity worked closely with his nan's brother, Martin Edwards, who lives in Thurrock.

"I've seen the before and after with Martin. I know just how much better this sort of care can be for people," he said.

"Scope does fantastic work, not only with disabled people, but they work with a disabled person's family to make their lives easier.

"I raised £11,000 in total, which I am absolutely over the moon with. In fact, I am already in training again as I really wanted to compete in another Ironman and raise even more money for Scope."

But Paul may have to juggle his training commitments with his musical interests, as the multi-talented chef also plays guitar in the band Timeless Acoustic with singer Kerrie Angell.

ONE man's passion for nearly a quarter of a century has been saved from an uncertain future thanks to a whirlwind campaign to keep the project alive.

Talliston House, the former council house in Great Dunmow which takes visitors from a Welsh Tower during the Victoria era, to a 1950s kitchen in New Orleans to a haunted boudoir in a Scottish manor house, had been placed on the market after its creator John Trevillian was made redundant and could no longer afford to stump up the funds needed to keep it going.

But after news of Talliston, which means 'secret place in the woods', spread through the UK and beyond, supporters rallied round to raise a little more than £6,000 in three months, allowing John to take it well and truly off the market.

"I'm just emotionally exhausted, it has been such a rollercoaster ride but there's been so much positivity and it really shows how important Talliston is, how much people love it," said John, 49, who prefers to see himself as a custodian of the property off Newton Green.

"For the last three months I have not stopped talking to people. Nobody had heard of Talliston and I had to change that very quickly."

Since he purchased the house 24 years ago, John has spent £700,000 transforming the three-bed semi into a place "better than Disneyland", which takes guests through the eras and across the globe.

People can step into a garden courtyard from 1930s Ireland, scramble into a Cambodian Treehouse loft or explore a Scandinavian boathouse bathroom – all within four walls.

But with three rooms left to finish and monthly running costs of £2,000, John lost his job in publishing and took the decision to put the property on the market for £300,000 earlier this year, while simultaneously launching a campaign to save it.

In the past three months the novelist has invited anyone who asked to look around his lifelong project.

It appeared on television as far afield as Russia and the Ukraine, while eBay sales, a prohibition ball and a vintage tea party, and a loyal team of supporters desperate to keep Talliston for the community helped to pay for it.

And on Sunday, July 27, he was able to confirm the campaign had been a success, two days after he was also offered a new job.

"Talliston is the thing I would hold above my head if I was drowning, it affects so many people in such a positive way and I needed to do whatever it took, for me I had to put myself out there," John told the Chronicle.

"It's like my child that I have given everything to and for whom I would do anything for. Everybody who knew about the house already and all those people who don't have all been touched by this project and it's been humbling."

Now the property, which currently plays host to supper clubs, guided tours and various meet-ups, will be closed to the public from October for 12 months while John and his team of volunteers put the finishing touches to the 25-year masterpiece.

"When we get to the end of the project I will relinquish it," added John.

"I didn't create Talliston to have supper clubs there; the journey for me was creating it."

A SCHOOLBOY will perform with The Hobbit, Fargo and Sherlock star Martin Freeman after securing a big role in a West End production.

William Keeler, 13, from Chelmsford, landed the role of the Prince of York in the production of Shakespeare's Richard III at Trafalgar Studios in the former Whitehall Theatre, which will feature Freeman as the king.

William, who attends New Hall School, said: "I've only ever appeared in musicals so it's really exciting to work on a West End play, particularly Shakespeare, and to top it all I get covered in blood – a dream come true.

"It's fascinating working with director Jamie Lloyd as he is very specific with what he expects from you. I'm a massive fan of The Hobbit and Sherlock so working with Martin Freeman was really interesting, particularly watching him create an evil character with different physicality.

"On the first day of rehearsal I spent the first session following Martin around the room to try and copy his walk as Richard III. "It was a very surreal experience and so wonderful to be learning my craft from one of the best actors in the industry."

William has previously played the role of Colin in EastEnders and other roles in the West End including productions of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Singin' in the Rain and as Nigel in the original cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Matilda, but never has he played such a big part until now.

Describing his audition experience he said: "For the audition I had to learn quite a lot of scenes from Richard III and then travel up to London to meet the director Jamie Lloyd.

"I had to go through the script and also walk around as though I had a hunchback and a limp, like the king."

William learned to dance and act after years of training at the Tomorrow's Talent theatre school in Well Lane, Danbury, but he is still unsure if acting is the right career path.

"I'd love to be either an actor, a marine zoologist or a linguist," laughed William, who will appear in two scenes with Martin Freeman.

William was also recently appointed head chorister at Chelmsford Cathedral.

Gavin Wilkinson, principal at Tomorrow's Talent, said: "William first came to Tomorrow's Talent aged just six and was rather shy and quiet. But with William's hard work and determination he has just opened in his fourth West End production.

"William is a testament to the wealth of talented young people that we have in the local area, with many of our students performing leading roles both on stage and screen."

To find out more about Tomorrow's Talent visit its website at www.tomorrowstalent.co.uk

To book Richard III tickets visit www.londontheatredirect.com

WHEN an 18-month-old Alex Dowsett was diagnosed with haemophilia, his mother thought it would be physically impossible for him to reach the dizzy heights of life as a professional athlete.

How wrong Jan Dowsett was as she cried in disbelief as the Great Baddow cyclist won the time trial at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Thursday last week.

The gold medal hanging from the 25-year-old's neck was one of seven won by Essex athletes, a haul two greater than Team Wales achieved.

"I would have never believed it in a million years," said Jan, 58, of Cock Clarks near Maldon.

"If you would have told me I would never have believed it, I would say it's not at all possible."

Dowsett completed the 38.4km course in 47:41 minutes, nine seconds quicker than second-placed Australian Rohan Dennis.

In the following days he's been whisked from one interview to the next, yet after standing proud on the podium he still managed to squeeze in a series of hugs with his family at the barrier.

The moment capped off an emotional life journey and a tough last month after Dowsett missed on Movistar's team for the Tour de France due to illness.

Maldon-born Dowsett, a former pupil of Elm Green Preparatory School in Little Baddow and King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford, spent much of his childhood in and out of hospital.

He was diagnosed with haemophilia after he fell and cut the inside of his mouth but didn't stop bleeding.

The condition affects an estimated one in 5,000 males, his the most severe form, and impairs the body's ability to control blood-clotting.

Yet by age 14 he had thrown himself into sport; a member of Chelmsford Swimming Club and Maldon & District Cycling Club.

The three-time British time trial champion was readying himself to cycle through his home county in July for Le Tour, but was omitted due to suffering with bronchitis. "It was terrible, awful," said Jan. "He understands why he didn't get in, but he was just frustrated.

"He got a chest infection and certainly was not well enough. He was in a really bad place, terrible. But he thought 'I have got to focus for the Commonwealth Games'. There was a hunger.

"There was no point sitting, moping, and Alex is not one to do that. He got on with that task.

"He has had disappointments in life so he knows how to deal with it."

The omission was arguably a blessing in disguise, however, as he could focus solely on success in Glasgow and beating the silver medal he won in the time trial in Delhi four years ago.

"It's unbelievable," said Jan, who said watching her son compete was "extremely stressful".

"No words can explain how proud I am, proud, relieved and happy for him."

Dowsett's little sister Lois chose not to travel to Glasgow convinced she would "jinx" his chances, choosing to watch the final hunched over a laptop at work in London.

"Sod's law is I wouldn't go and he would win," said the 22-year-old, a production assistant at ITV4 programme the Cycle Show.

"I was having a mini breakdown watching it. I can safely say out of watching him in everything he does, that was the most nervous I've been.

"I knew how much it meant to him.

"When he did win I burst into tears, I have never cried that much."

The next morning Lois bought almost every newspaper in the shop while boasting about her brother to strangers in the queue.

"You can't put into words what it feels like to see your brother on the screen getting a medal with the anthem playing," she said.

CHELMSFORD Athletic Club's Hayley McLean is hoping to build on the experience of her first Commonwealth Games.

The 19-year-old tasted disappointment as she finished fourth in her 400m hurdles heat in a time of 57.80 secs which would not have seen her progress to the final.

But matters were made worse when she found out afterwards that she had been disqualified for a 'hurdling violation'.

And she believes she can take her experience from the Games into next year's U23 European Athletics Championships, to be held in Tallinn in Estonia.

Speaking after returning from Glasgow, McLean said: "To be selected was an absolute honour and I said from the beginning that anything that came off the back of that was a bonus."

"I'm quite sad it's over but I'm so excited about what comes next.

"Being disqualified was quite upsetting but obviously I want to go back and work on it a bit more.

"But I totally believe that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

"I didn't actually get an official statement back from the officials. They said I got eighth place and said that my trail leg came around the hurdle. We protested this and they said it was too difficult based on the photo evidence but said they would disqualify me anyway because my foot went around the lane.

"It was frustrating more than anything because I got disqualified two years ago and I thought I had worked on that and corrected it. I just have to work."

Essex has escaped the brunt of ex-hurricane Bertha as much of south-west and southern England were left battered by heavy rain and gusts of wind up to 50 to 60 mph.

Met Office forecasters predict flash floods as it moves north towards Scotland but Essex is only likely to suffer sporadic heavy bursts of rain today (August 10) and strong winds.

Essex County Council also warned motorists to take extra care on the roads, following  the Met Office warning of possible thundery showers, heavy rain and very windy weather today.

The council has also issued the following tips:

• If you encounter standing water, drive with care and slow down, particularly as the wash from vehicles travelling through water can flood adjacent properties or cause other vehicles to stall. Your brakes may also be adversely affected.
• Where there is water on the highway such as a ford, this could be deep and should be avoided.
• If you are in an area where flooding has happened in the past, keep abreast of the current weather forecasts and log on to the website www.metoffice.gov.uk for the weather warnings for your area.
• Check the Environment Agency's website to see if you are in a location which is at risk from flooding at www.environment-agency.gov.uk. • Check that grills near you are clear of debris or obstruction. It is a landowner's responsibility to keep watercourses free-flowing, unless known otherwise. DO NOT approach unsafe structures or fast-flowing water, even to clear blockages.

On Wednesday the Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" weather warning that included Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk.

But Essex was not as badly as neighbouring counties and only experienced heavy rain on Friday, with areas of Cambridgeshire under water and the A14 left flooded.

Bertha travelled 4,000 miles from the Caribbean last week but was downgraded from a hurricane to a storm after the weather system broke up over the Atlantic Ocean.

A FACTORY roof in Maldon caught fire last night causing damage to the building.

Firefighters were called to Station Road at around 6.45pm as crews from Maldon and Witham attended the scene.

The blaze was in the corner of a factory roof at The Engine Shed and was extinguished by 7.30pm.

Fire service operations continued as crews checked for hotspots using a thermal image camera and the incident was dealt with by 7.37pm.

AN accident on the A12 slip road has caused serious delays on along the road.

Traffic is at a standstill on the south-bound carriageway from the junction with the A414 near Chelmsford and the B1002.

The tailback was caused by an earlier accident has near junction 25 at A1023, Mountnessing.

The congestion is also around junction 14, at Wantz and will continue while the recovery work continues.

TWO men were taken to hospital, one with serious head injuries and one was later arrested after a fight in Ferry Road, Hullbridge.

Officers were called shortly before 1.50am today after residents reported a disturbance in the street.

On arrival police found a man lying outside shops in the road with head injuries. A number of other men had also suffered less serious injuries.

The victim, believed to be a 55-year-old man from the Hullbridge area, was initially taken to hospital in Southend before being transferred to Queens Hospital for further treatment.

He is reported to be in a serious but stable condition.

Police have launched an investigation and following subsequent enquiries have arrested a 25-year-old man at an address in Rayleigh on suspicion of assault.

He was subsequently taken to hospital in Basildon for treatment to injuries he had sustained.

Detective Inspector Jon Burgess, who is leading the investigation, said: "Our initial enquiries suggest that there was some sort of dispute in the Smugglers Den public house which then carried on into the street.

"If anyone who was in the pub witnessed this argument or saw what happened afterwards then I would very much like to speak to them."

Anyone with information can contact DI Jon Burgess at Southend Police station on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

THREE suspected thieves stole hundreds of pounds worth of alcohol from a Braintree shop.

Police want to identify three men who were caught on camera at the time that £600 worth of alcohol was stolen from Sainsburys in Tofts Walk in Braintree between 12.30pm and 12.40pm on Thursday July 17.

All three suspects were seen to gather in the aisle before one of them selected items from the shelves and placed them in bags in his shopping trolley and then left without making an attempt to pay.

Investigating officer, PC Chris Gould, said: "Only one of the men walked out with the alcohol but all three appear to have been together before the theft took place."

The man who took the alcohol is described as being of South European appearance, in his late 30s.

He was at least 5ft 11in tall and was wearing a lilac shirt with dark blue tie, black trousers and black shoes.

One of the other suspects is described as a white man, at least 5ft 11in tall, with a round face. He was wearing sunglasses, a dark blue t-shirt, dark blue three quarter length trousers and light blue trainers.

The other suspect is also of South European appearance, at least 5ft 11in tall, with a skinny face. He was wearing a white shirt, black trousers with a black belt and black shoes.

Police are asking anyone who recognises any of the people from the CCTV images to call PC Chris Gould at Braintree Police Station on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.